Tech Predictions For 2013: $199 Xbox 720, PS4, 2 iPhones, And More

Mobile & Apps: "The year 2013 is going to be a big year for technology and gaming, and probably may end up as being the biggest yet. Trying to figure out what will happen in 2013 is not easy unless one has some inside information, so theories and speculation will have to do for now."

Microsoft could shake things up a bit if they do plan on releasing a subsidized system with a low starting point based on a subscription based model. They could offer Live and a 3 year term for $9.99 a month and a upfront fee of $199. Or sell the system for $399. I just don't see them dropping the Live fees which is a shame. The Xbox 360 will get a major price cut this year.

As for Sony they are a bit more of a mystery. Their current PS3 is still over $200 retail, and they want to really push Vita this year. So do they announce more new hardware in 2013? The people at Sony did say that they don't want to come out last and give Microsoft a headstart again. I wonder if we will see bundles with Vita and the PS3 come out? Or perhaps the PS4 might be better suited with the Vita and could drive more sales there.

brats on N4G (there's a ton of them) don't bother with reading articles. they are too dependent on mommy and too lazy to click on and read what they deem, a wall of text..

xbox would make MORE money off the $199.99 model if they used the structured cell phone type plan on their xbox live service.

In the end, consumer sloths would pay roughly 200$ more, over time, by selecting the marketing genius option known as the $199 model. And I say marketing genius only in the context that people by and large are mindless, thoughtless, ignorant sloths <3

It's marketing, meganick. It would appear to be cheaper than the Wii U and probably the PS4 by hiding the long term cost. It would also help Microsoft keep people subscribing to Xbox Live and not have a higher upfront cost. Some cellphones cost over $600 to buy but if you sign a term deal often it's less than $200 and sometimes free (not really free but you know what I mean). After people buy the console they usually get one or two games and maybe another controller. That adds up and many people hold off buying a new console until the price comes down.

Having a consumer 'locked' in makes it more likely they will stick with you for that length of time. I myself probably wouldn't sign up unless the term wasn't much more than just paying it all at once.

Vames got disagrees for his defensive posturing after having a baiting headline. Unfortunately the reality is that many people won't read much past a headline, and if a headline is sensationalized or misleading, misinformation is spread at the sake of an author wanting hits. Vames is not the only one guilty of such tactics by a long shot, but he is still guilty. Ultimately, MS may use the monthly payment scheme to sell the 720 for an initial investment of $199, but they will not do it at the start when they are able to get full retail, and have a shortage of consoles because it's the start of the console's life cycle.

A model that is half the price? The only upgrade that will be available is a bigger hard drive. And his response is well thought out for how dull minded your statement was about the new Xbox being $400...then $200 for a downgraded version. The whole subscription thing is just a load of crap to be honest. Just taking a statement from opinion based article, and put it in your as if it's complete truth.

2 New iPhones in 2012? A little doubtful. They've had a very steady pace of releases 1 new iPhone every year along with a new iOS.

Then you just kind of leave PS4 in the dark with actual facts. You only took what everyone else is saying. "PS4 Q4 release"...We know it's going to be Q4 because it's been proven that big releases for anything are best to be released from October through November (Except movies...Dark Knight proved them wrong)

Paying for Xbox live is nothing for me.. It's like 2 hours work.I guess a lot of people don't have jobs theses days.. Which makes me think Microsoft has 2 options for Xbox live for 720 1: make gold free and then make a platinum paid service which would give u free games and Xbox music.. Kinda like playstation does.. Although I think Microsoft would lose millions and millions of dollars doing this.. Or 2:just make Xbox live gold cheaper. At about $20 a year and start offering free games a month and other new features. I think option 2 is Microsofts best option as its kinda like everyone wins.. What u think?

I have a job and make money on a normal basis. But still, no. I already payed $200+ for my gaming system and already payed $60+ for each game. And MS still expect me to pay for an online service? I mean... its ok to pay for online gaming in a MMORPG. I mean, its just one game. But forcing the customer to pay for an online service on a system that you already payed for? No way! That's like Toyota charging you money every time you turn on the air conditioner on a car you already payed. I don't know... I just don't feel right about it.

Don't be so sure. Sony hasn't successfully tapped into the crucial casual market like Nintendo and Microsoft have. So unless they have something amazing up there sleeves, I see Sony struggling next gen. I know that type of talk is unpopular on this site. I like Sony and don't want to see them struggle, but that's just the way I see it.

The subscription/contact based model would be trouble in the sense that they would be going from a 'Whoever has the cash can buy/play' system to a 'You have to pass a credit check' system. That pushes out a lot of people.

If one maker chooses to sell them cheap, the other will have to follow suit or their user base will be too small for 3rd party developers to bother with - that's assuming they are similar in performance as they were this generation.

Remember, they get a share of the cash you spend on every game so if they are confident that people will buy many new games they make up the losses on the console that probably costs $500+ to manufacture. (and digital distribution is going to keep getting more relevant - where there aren't manufacturing overheads and there isn't a 2nd hand market)

They know loads of people will want the systems on launch though, so those prices are indeed insanely low - they can easily get away with introducing the consoles at similar prices that the current gen did and adjust the RRP based on uptake and the response from 3rd party developers. They will drop in price at record speeds though, compared to previous console generations.

Is everyone forgetting that article a couple months ago that was saying only one next gen console would be released next year? Sure, it's a rumor. But if I remember correctly it was from a reliable source. I think if it comes true then Xbox 720 will be announced mid to late next year shortly followed by PS4 in Q1-Q2 2014. Mainly because of so many more 720 rumors. Then again, Sony could surprise us out of nowhere by announcing the PS4 even sooner.

I personally expect them both to land in 2014. Said to be a delay on production for Microsoft's parts. So 2014 could be battleground for both consoles.

Another thing to note is how the patents were released. Microsoft's got released first. Then Sony's only a couple of months later. I expect that to be reflected in their release dates as well. Microsoft launching first with Sony only a few months behind.

When you base your comment solely off of the title of an article without actually reading said article to get the context of it, you only make yourself look uneducated. Like those people who are fooled into paying a lot of hidden fees due to them not reading the fineprint of their contract.

He's saying that the 720 could be $199 under the agreement that you sign up for a contract deal. I imagine something akin to you agreeing to sign up for a year or so worth of Xbox Live service.

Many cellphone service providers and cable providers do the same thing. You agree to a contract to keep their services for a set amount of time and you get to acquire the hardware (in this case, the console) at a cheaper price then you would if you had bought it without a contract.

As they've already been testing the waters with this very idea on the 360 and seeing how successful this business model has been for other revenues I'm not really sure why so many people find the idea to be so ridiculous. Its highly probable. I doubt they'll start off with this type of offer at launch however, we probably won't see it until a couple months after the initial release.

Perhaps the author should had added an asterisk besides the price in the title. Though someone who would not read it before basing their opinion on an article probably aren't likely to know what significance there is between $199.00 and $199.00*

I sincerely doubt the next Xbox will start with the same installment program the current Xbox has, since they most likely wouldn't sell.

This is completely due to the slow start up and uncertain nature of a new console. By simply taking a look at the 3DS, Vita or Wii U, you can see that there weren't a ton of amazing titles and new releases were far and few between. Since most people know / expect this (not to mention we will see the doom / gloom articles if the next Xbox doesn't match the 360 from the start), people who lack the funds will simply wait for better titles / a price drop, over simply picking up the new console via an installment plan. The only reason why the 360 installment plan works, is the fact that there is plenty to do and the future is certain. Finally when it comes to newer fancy tech like this, many people want an easy "out". Like if I bought the next Xbox via installment plan, but nothing came out / I didn't want it anymore... I would have to choose to terminate my contract (with a hefty penalty), keep the system around and pay the fees or sell it to another while I continue to pay the fees (assuming I can't actually afford to pat the termination fee / it's too steep to do so). Needless to say, I see the idea going over as well as Sony announcing AT&T service with the Vita.

WiiU will have extraordinary games out before then and will hog the lime light as games like Mariokart and Metroid will sell wiiu's,ps4 will be second choice after wiiu with 720 only selling to the hardcore microsoft fans as i don't think anyone else will care.

ive always wondered about these contract deals. so you buy the system at say the low price of 199.99 from eb games then your xbl/psn payments follow? would there have to be some sort of credit check done at eb games before you got the new system? maybe have your credit card on file? and how good would your credit rating have to be. to be honest im not even sure how it works for the 360 as i had mine long before this idea was around

Has anybody been reading or watching Kaz Hirais interviews on Sony. This dude is scary smart. He loves the playstation brand that's for sure with more emphasis from the while wony empire on games now. Great to have the right people in charge. Sony...come out swinging!

in fact ps lovers/owners need to grow up a little bit..and understand that to run a good service as xbl u need money...i got ps3....and i can swear god that IMHO (read again IMHO) everything on psn is SLOW cheap and bugged...try to run online with gt5 how much u need to wait to do a game? ....wtf...i would be faster to go in a bar a find a girl for the night...if is this the idea of what u have for ONLINE GAMING...well we cant talk together...coz my idea is distant as the sun to pluto

what was that ps HOME...cmon seem a port coming from another console where u seem can do something but is USELESS.....wanna talk about the old market? ........with no money u take what u take..and u cant pretend better things...i understand ...this......and for this reason WHEN I WANT i pay for 3 xbl months..

199$ for Xbox 2? Are you serious? If they launch only at that price they will spend more money trying to upgrade their hard drive. And people that buy's the Xbox don't know what kind of memory it will have in it and what does the crappy iPhone have to do with gaming consoles?

Unlikely, but there's a possibility the "Steambox" will make quite a big impact. That's more likely in 2014 or later though. I mean, it takes the good side of PC gaming and combines it with the good side of console gaming, the only thing that will be missing is Sony/MS/Nint exclusives. And the multiplats will be cheaper, often far cheaper...

Steambox is worthless, apple are losing touch. People who buy apple are getting ripped off all over the place. It's the same reason sony had problems with TV's. You can get a cheaper set with same features.

Next Xbox will probably have two to three versions, 199, 299 to 400... All in all lose some on the systems themselves, but with millions and millions of consoles sold they will get the extra controllers and peripherals, plus XBL will bring in all that extra cash, 50 per year for 5 or more years adds up...

They can lose 100 or so a system, but gain 250+ on XBL,then comes extra gear, games, and with millions of systems sold (25 million +), making just 100 per person on extras they will rake in over a couple billion at least when all is said and done...

PS4 has to have learned from the Ps3 launch, and start with at least a choice of 300 to 400 package deals...